STTI Small Grants

Nancy K. Beam, MSN, MPH (Alpha Eta Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Women and men's preferences for delivery services in rural Ethiopia
The proposed study will identify delivery service preferences of pregnant women and their male partners in rural Ethiopia.

Diane Leigh Butcher, MN (Xi Eta Chapter, CANADA)
Title of Project: Educating Nursing Students For Working On Intra-professional Teams: A Systematic Review Of The Experiences Of Health Professional Students And Educators
This systematic review could provide significant evidence to inform both educators and students as to how develop intra-professional relationships for practice.

It is hoped that the findings will give hints to the development of resilience building model for nursing students and employed nurses and ultimately contribute to the retention of nurses, reduction of burnout, promotion of their psychological well-being and enabling them to provide quality patient care.

Hiba Deek, MSAHN (Chi Iota Chapter, AUSTRALIA)
Title of Project: Family Focused Approach to iMprove Heart Failure care In Lebanon QualitY (FAMILY) Intervention: Randomized Controlled Trial for Implementing an Education Family Session
This study will describe the design of this culturally appropriate trial and explain the rationale behind educating the primary family caregiver of patients with heart failure.

The proposed study proposes an innovative question about the relationship among early life adversity, proinflammatory phenotype (high proinflammatory cytokines, and low oxytocin), and risk for perinatal depression in an at risk population of low-income African American women (AAW).

Rebecca E. Guilkey, BSN (Alpha Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: The Trajectory of Adult Post-craniotomy Brain Tumor Pain over the Post-operative Period
The purpose of this grounded theory study is to develop an explanatory framework that describes the unfolding of pain-related experiences in post-craniotomy brain tumor patients during the post-operative period.

S.G. Hallowell, PhD, MSN (Xi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Fostering the Optimal Contribution of Nurses to Parental Engagement in Neonatal Intensive Care
The proposed study aims to identify organizational nursing factors that promote parental presence in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) using a large, national sample of NICUs.

Jamie L. Hansen, MSN (Delta Gamma-at-Large Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Comparing Competency among Nursing Students Participating in Two Different Sequenced Simulation/Clinical Practicum Experiences
The purpose of this study is to determine whether the sequence of learning experiences designed to prepare baccalaureate nursing students for clinical practice influences the development of clinical competency.

Li-Ting Huang, MSN (Delta Beta-at-Large Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Perinatal Depressive Risk in African American Women: Early Life Adversity and Epigenetic Proinflammatory Phenotype
The proposed study will contribute to a conceptual, molecular bridge that links ELA, proinflammatory phenotype and perinatal depressive risk.

Hyejin Kim, MSN (Xi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Exploring Surrogates’ Experiences of POLST Discussions for Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia
The overall purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to explore how surrogate decision makers (SDMs) engage in and experience Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) discussions for nursing home residents with advanced dementia.

Chia-Kuei Lee, PhD (Alpha Lambda Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Effect of a Drinker Identity on Smoking-Related Information Processing and Behavior
The proposed study is based on the schema model of self-concept (Markus, 1977) and the related hypothesis that cross-substance facilitation of information processing (Doebrick & Todman, 2003) influences co-occurring drinking and smoking behaviors.

Chenjuan Ma, PhD, MSN (Xi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Unit Climate of Teamwork and Nursing Leadership, and the Effects on Patient Outcomes
The purpose of this study is to examine teamwork and nursing leadership in U.S. acute care hospital units and to identify their effects on nursing-sensitive patient outcomes.

Thao Pham, BSN (Alpha Lambda Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: The Effects of Tube Feedings on Preterm Infant Nutritrive Feeding Organization
The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of the duration of tube feedings on infant nutritive feeding organization in preterm infants.

Krista Schroeder, BSN (Alpha Zeta Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Evaluation of a School Nurse-Led Obesity Program for Severely Obese New York City Public School Students
The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to evaluate the Healthy Options and Physical Activity Program (HOP), a school nurse-led childhood obesity initiative for severely obese New York City Public School students.

Amparo Zaragoza, PhD, MSN (Alpha Chi Chapter, SPAIN)
Title of Project: Translation and cultural adaptation to the Spanish Context of the Somerville (2009) Patient´s Perception of Feeling Known by their nurses scale
The purpose of the study is to dispose of a Spanish version of Somerville´s (2009) Patients Perception of Feeling Known by their Nurses Scale (PPFKN scale).

Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Award

Sara Edwards, MN, MPH (Alpha Epsilon Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Brain-Gut Axis and Its Influences on Gestational Weight Gain. This study will advance the science in this poorly understood area of GWG, with particular significance for this at-risk population of AA women and their maternal-fetal outcomes.

Co-Sponsored Partner Grant Recipients

STTI/Alpha Eta Collaborative Research Grant

Karen Zagenhagen, Mphil, BA Cur, B Cur (Tau Lambda-at-Large, SOUTH AFRICA)
Title of Project: The Nature and Significance of the Hidden Curriculum in a Military Teaching and Learning Environment and its Influence on the Professional Socialisation of Student Nurses
The aim of this study is to explore the nature of the hidden curriculum in a military teaching and learning environment and to determine its significance and influence on the professional socialisation of student nurses.

STTI/American Association of Critical Care Nurses Grant

Sherrie McMullen, PhD, CNS, NNP-BC (USA)
Title of Project: Transitioning the Hospitalized Preterm Infant; A Randomized Control Trial."
The purpose of this study is to promote a period of acclimation before hospital discharge as the supine position reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome; the impact of positioning at this gestational age on development is unknown at this time.

STTI/American Nurses Foundation Grant

Carol Sedlak, PhD (Delta Xi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Transgender Individuals and Osteoporosis Prevention. The purpose of this study is to produce pilot data on the knowledge, health beliefs, and osteoporosis preventing behaviors (OPB) of TI in an attempt to expand the scientific knowledge base about their bone health and bone health behaviors so that interventions can be planned.

Karen Frith, PhD, MSN (Beta Phi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Effect of Comprehensive Fall Prevention Program on Gait, Balance, and Falls of Community Dwelling Elders. This evidence-based fall prevention program will focus on medication review and reduction of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) can be expected to improve gait and balance and reduce the number of falls.

STTI/Association of Nurses in AIDS Care Grant

Meredith Mikulich, MPH, BSN (USA)
Title of Project: Exploring Determinants of Infant Feeding Practice Among HIV-Postitive Mothers in Ethiopia. This study aims to identify factors that underlie women’s infant feeding decision-making and behavior over time. Identifying these factors will allow more successful and cost-effective health interventions that support optimal feeding practices to be designed in Ethiopia and other low-resource populations, as well as reduce the threat of viral diffusion across international borders./div>

STTI/Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Grant

Robin Chard, PhD, RN, CNOR (USA)
Title of Project: The Meaning of Intraoperative Errors: Perioperative Nurse Perspectives. This study seeks to describe and interpres the experiences of intraoperative errors from the perspectives of perioperative nurses.

STTI/ATI Educational Assessment Nursing Research Grant

Donna Nickitas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FNAP, FAAN (Alpha Phi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: What is the Relationship Between Mentors' Qualities and Mentees Successful Progression in a Nursing PhD Program? The purpose of this proposal is to conduct a descriptive correlational research study that builds on a the recipients previous pilot study to explore the relationship between mentors' qualities and key indicators link successful progression and completion of a nursing doctoral program.

STTI/Canadian Nurses Foundation Grant

Samantha Mayo, MN (Lambda Pi-at-Large Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: A Brain Fitness Intervention for Adult Lymphoma Survivors: A Pilot Feasibility Study. The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility of a Brain Fitness intervention in a sample of lymphoma survivors.

Jennifer Gunberg Ross, PhD, RN, CNE (Alpha Nu Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: The Effect of Deliberate Practice and Peer Mentoring on Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Competence in Vital Signs, Breath Sounds, and Heart Sounds
The purpose of this proposed research is to evaluate the effect of a program of deliberate practice and peer mentoring on: baccalaureate nursing students’ competence in vital signs, and auscultation of breath and heart sounds, and students’ retention of these critical patient care skills.

STTI/Council for Advancement of Nursing Science

Sarah Abboud, PhD, MSN (Xi Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Exploring Healthy Sexualities and Sexual Behaviors in Arab and Arab American Youth. The proposed work will be both innovative and significant, and will have great potential to promote the sexual health of an underserved, understudied population who has been the target of stigma and stereotyping.

STTI/Emergency Nurses Association Foundation Grant

Kimberly D. Johnson, PhD (USA)
Title of Project: Using Simulation to Assess the Impact of Triage Interruptions. This proposal will provide baseline data to determine how interruptions affect the decision-making process of nurses conducting emergency department triage and effect triage accuracy.

Ruth Ann Bryant, MSN, BSN (Delta Chi-at-Large Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Benefits of and Barriers to Patient Engagement with Reduction of Harm.The purpose of this proposal is to conduct a series of sequential focus groups with patient, family members, and interdisciplinary teams and one on one interview with hospitalists to address ways to overcome these two barriers.

STTI/Hospice and Palliative Nurses Foundation End of Life Nursing Care Research Grant

Kavita Radhakrishnan, PhD, BSN (Epsilon Theta Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Advanced Care Planning Behaviors of South Asian Indian-Americans. The purpose of this proposed research is to explore South Asian Indian-Americans’ (SAIAs’) readiness to engage in advanced care planning (ACP) which is planning ahead for treatment during severe illness or end of life, and to identify the barriers and facilitators related to their engagement in behaviors associated with ACP. This study will be one of the first to identify information and other needs on ACP among SAIAs, who are an understudied ethnic minority.

STTI/Midwest Nursing Research Society Research Grant

Pamela Lynne Ostby, MSN, BNS, RN (Delta Lambda-at-Large, Alpha Iota Chapters, USA)
Title of Project: The Effectiveness of an Interactive Theatre Intervention on Improving Adherence to Self-Management Regimens for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an interactive theatre intervention in improving adherence to self-management of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) and perceptions of self-efficacy and self-regulation with female breast cancer survivors.

Alyce Ashcraft, PhD, RN, CNE (Iota Mu Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Improving Nurse Physician Communication in the Nursing Home. This pilot study will determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a Sensemaking SBAR training intervention on communication quality between NH nurses and physicians about changes in NH resident status.

STTI/Omicron Delta Research Grant

Vishnu Renjith, MSN (Eta Pi Chapter, INDIA)
Title of Project: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) on the Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Intervention on Migraine. The trial is primarily designed to investigate the effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention in; improving the quality of life; reducing disability; decreasing intensity, frequency and duration of attacks among migraineurs.

STTI/Southern Nursing Research Society Grant

Patricia Ann Kinser, PhD, MN (Gamma Omega Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: Mindful Physical Activity+Centering Pregnancy for Overweight/Obese Diverse Pregnant Women. The overall goal of this interdisciplinary program of research is to increase self-efficacy for and engagement in PA, facilitate appropriate weight gain, and enhance psychological health in overweight/obese pregnant women, with the overarching goal of enhancing maternal-child health outcomes.

STTI/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant

Carmen Spalding, MSN, BSN (Zeta Mu-at-Large Chapter, USA)
Title of Project: A Phenomonologic Study of Health Care Workers' Perceptions of “Allow Natural Death” Terminology. The purpose of the study is to explore the “lived experience” of clinicians in utilizing AND terminology in EOL care conversations with parents of terminally ill children.